Task 3b - Theories relating to networking

Task 3b: Theories relating to networking

The concept of cooperation involves a choice within an individual as to how they chose to conduct themselves in their professional life.

          Almost everybody wants to succeed; that is, do well in their profession, improve, be respected professionally and ‘climb the professional ladder ie. Promotion/ pay increase/ more responsibility. Some people chose to consciously manipulate people and situations to their professional benefit. They do not leave success to chance. Robert Axelrod explains the concept of cooperation as one where an individual fully cooperates within this profession, until he reaches the stage at which he feels he has attained his professional peak with that company, and then he should ‘defect’ (abandon cooperation)

          The idea of this concept is not one that I particularly identify with. I, like most people want to improve within my profession, but I don’t like the idea of pre-empting how and when I will fully cooperate and when I will start to no longer cooperate. I can’t help but feel that this is a very hard, calculated and selfish approach to work. It is certainly not an approach that works being employed in a school. I think that anyone who is this driven by success, should not be working in education. Teaching is about the joy of learning, sharing your knowledge and genuinely wanting to teach. There are plenty of other jobs that can guarantee promotion, incentives and pay increases other than teaching.

          Having said this, I am by no means suggesting that teaching is purely about the love of the job. Teachers are, after all, still human. They have families to support, mortgages to pay and ambitions to realise. In my professional practice, I do want to ‘succeed’, but not in a way that I would consider ‘using’ people.

          Axelrod noticed that this type of cooperation actually happens within biological evolution. It is similar to the process of natural selection- the ‘good’ go on to reproduce and the ‘bad’ do not survive. The concept of is parallel with the professional individual playing ‘Mother Nature’, and killing off the species/ companies that are no good to you.

          The concept of ‘networking’ within my professional practice was initially one that left me slightly anxious. Only after writing about it in task 3a, did I realise it was something I was already a part of quite successfully. I think that what I wasn’t keen on was the idea of having to surround myself with vast numbers of people so that I could some day ‘use’ to advance my career. I am the sort of person who would rather surround myself with a smaller group of ‘good’ friends/ colleagues, rather than lots of ‘aquaintences’.

          This leads me on to the concept of ‘affiliation’ and how humans benefit from associating themselves with others. Crisp and Turner (2007) explain that through affiliation, we provide ourselves “with a network of support that will help us when we are in need”. This is something that particularly appeals to me as I have always preferred to work along side others so that I can both give and receive support when necessary.

          O’Connor and Rosenblood (1996), comment that one of the principles of affiliation theory is that of homeostasis. Homeostasis is a biological system in which the body controls important conditions such as water content, body temperature and blood glucose concentration. If the body recognises that it is dehydrated, for example, less water is lost through urine and if the body has excess water, more urine will be released. It is the natural way in which the body regulates itself to ensure a consistent balance is maintained.

          O’Connor and Rosenblood suggest that we can regulate the correct balance of people needed around us too, to maintain a desired level. I found this concept to be true. During my professional day, I am surrounded by a constantly large number of people. There are around 1000 people in the school and I would say that my desired level is rather on the high side! During the evenings I do not have the desire to network with many people and the opposite is true when I have spent a day alone.

          This concept has definitely led me to understand how important affiliation is. It reminds me of the ‘It’s not what you know but who you know’ saying. I am aware that who I currently affiliate myself with is based upon genuine friendship as opposed to strategy. I would find it very difficult to affiliate myself with someone I did not particularly like, just to help me out professionally, although I do see the benefit and importance.

          I have understood from the Reader, the concept of Social Constructionism and found it really insightful. I find it fascinating to realise that ‘meaning is not discovered but constructed’ (M. Crotty, 2005). Of course this is true, but it is something we as humans, often have trouble comprehending. Everything in the universe already out there, exists. This only becomes apparent to us though, when we have ‘discovered’ it and acknowledged it. Crotty also mentions that ‘we do not create meaning. We construct meaning.’ This concept has made me realise that I can really benefit from listening and learning from others. My networking circle is small, as I have already mentioned, so I would probably gain more knowledge and insight, by including more people in to my professional and indeed social network.

          Connectivism is a concept that I feel I can relate to right now. Before starting on the BAPP course, I would say that the vast majority of my knowledge and learning had come from the educational system – primary school, secondary school and college. Since starting this course, I have realised that there is a whole world of information available to access through the internet, my peers, television and much more. Driscoll (2002) says that learning is ‘a persisting change in human performance…[which] must come about as a result of the learner’s experience and interaction with the world’. I have recently been gathering knowledge from sources on the Readers, fellow students, course advisors and websites. I feel that I have truly been connecting with a wider variety of information.

          I do see that finding information out through certain sources can be dangerous. In the Reader, it queries whether the source can be reliable or not. Websites such as ‘wikipedia’ can not be considered a source of fact, and some sites that may appear very knowledgeable, may well be untrue. However, this can (alarmingly) be true of the knowledge given by teachers! Last year, I attended a history lesson in which the pupils were given completely incorrect information about Anne Boleyn. It is a common myth that she had six fingers, but the teacher taught this as fact. This leads me to conclude that any information, regardless of where it is from, can not be taken as gospel, and it is up to the individual to seek out fact from fiction. This is why I particularly like Driscoll’s quote about the individual experiencing and interacting with the world, because then you can personally discover and experience without having to merely rely on others.

          The last concept that is talked about in the Reader is called Communities of practice.  I actually found this one the most difficult to understand because I don’t think that I relate to it very much. The concept involves the idea of gaining knowledge through social and informal interaction within a group of people who share a common practice. I see how this can be beneficial as people bounce ideas off each other and come up with new concepts, based on combination of individual ones. I’m not sure that this relates to me though, as I work in a government run establishment. The national curriculum is very structured and is based on targets, grades and deadlines. Unfortunately it is, in my opinion, very difficult to be able to suggest any new ideas into a system that is so structured and controlled.

          In conclusion, I have learnt that networking is much vaster than simply ‘knowing a lot of people’ that might help me gain a promotion. There are a number of very beneficial concepts that I will be trying to adopt in the future. I believe that they can not only benefit me professionally but also personally. There is so much to learn and the bigger my network, the stronger the possibility that I can learn and prosper in every way.

Task 3c - Sources of information

Having read through the part on ‘Connectivism’, in the Reader, I agreed that traditional ideas about learning are being drastically modified through the use of technology. I have lived through an age where the internet has been developed and consequently, the way in which the professional networks have also been developed. I feel very privileged to be a young professional in this day and age. Here are my top five most important sources of information.

1.      Google

I use Google every day. In my professional practice, I work in an after-school club which allows pupils to receive help with their homework, use the computers and other recourses. As the ranges of subjects that the pupils may need help with are numerous, I often don’t know the specifics myself. This is when I rely on Google. Being able to access information or guide the pupils to the information they require is invaluable.

I have noticed that almost everybody on this module has mentioned Google, including Liam Conman, Alicia Beck and Corinda Hall. This shows just how versatile Google is. I have a very different occupation to Alicia (She is a ballet dancer and I am an SEN teaching assistant), yet we both benefit so much from Google. Alicia uses Google to search for information on famous dancers and choreographers amongst other things and I might use Google to search for inspiration for a literacy lesson.

2.      One to one conversation – Face to face/ Telephone

I regularly find that although it is very old fashioned, actually talking to people can be the best source of information. For example, whilst helping a year 7 pupil work on her French ‘er’ verb endings, I was confused and had no computer access and could not find the French teacher to be able to obtain the information I needed in order to help the pupil. My mother was a French teacher for 30 years, so I quickly called her and within two minutes, I had the information I needed.

I have never been afraid to ask people for help when necessary. I regularly ask my boss and colleagues for information if I am unsure about anything. Not only is it incredibly quick to simply ask a question (if there is someone with you), a range of answers may be provided should there be two or more people to ask.

Sina –Jayne also mentions using face to face conversation as one of her top 5 sources of information. She discusses that ‘Sometimes speaking through text or email can give a wrong impression, or maybe your point may not be put across as well’.  I completely agree. I dislike not being able to express myself through facial expression. I really don’t’ enjoy using Skype, and although you can see the person you are communicating with, I find that expressions can be confused and awkward as the connection is often rather poor. I have already discussed in a previous blog that I initially had difficulty refraining from adding ‘kisses’ at the end of my blogs or smilies to express my emotion.  By communicating face to face, these difficulties are not an issue.

3.      Blogging

This is a very new source of information for me. I did not have a blog or had even looked at anyone else’s blog before starting on BAPP. Since September ’11, I thoroughly rely on looking through my peer’s blogs to obtain information, insight and inspiration regarding BAPP. This is obviously beneficial regarding the course, but it is also so interesting to learn the opinions of others. I have found myself both agreeing and questioning people’s ideas which I feel, help me to expand my own opinions. It has also developed some interesting conversations with my colleagues, as some of them have been interested in what I have been discussing in my blogs. What I write about is often very relevant to them too as they work in the same department as me and this has sparked a number of conversations.

4.      Youtube

Youtube seems to be another very popular source of information with the majority of BAPP students. It is so easy to use and beneficial to anyone needing a quick source of music. This is how and when I generally use the source. I teach a weekly dance/musical theatre class and rely on Youtube to provide the music I need. I no longer have to buy or even download the track I need, because I can simply play it from Youtube.

I have also used it to find the lyrics to songs. In classrooms we have smartboards so I can link Youtube (complete with tune and lyrics) to the smartboard so that the pupils can all see the words. Emma Hatton mentions that she too uses Youtube, and in a similar way to me. Being able to access songs that you are not familiar with at the click of a button is so valuable, especially to performers.

5.      http://www.senteacher.org/

This website is invaluable to me as an SEN teaching assistant. It has fantastic resources that are colourful, motivating and informative. I use it for ideas with my literacy classes and also to praise pupils by printing off certificates for them. It caters up to teaching year 10 however; the pupils I teach often have a lower reading age than their chronological age, so it is useful to be able to access a lower year bracket than they are actually in. The site also suggests other websites that may be useful to you and all recourses are free!

Task 3a - Current networks

In the Reader, a 'professional network' is described as ‘a work related community held together by either close
working affiliation or more distant but common work interests or needs’. I think this is a very good definition and especially like the fact that a 'more distant' work interest is high-lighted. Although my current professional practice lies within the special educational needs area of education, my intentions to work within performing arts in the future, mean I am keen to network with people from a performing arts background, in a professional capacity.
       Currently, I engage my professional network mostly through face to face interaction and emails, within my professional practice. Working in a fairly large school, it is often difficult to track colleagues down so we tend to correspond via email. Every member of staff has their personal email within the school's system which can be accessed both in and out of school. Sometimes, especially in confidential or delicate situations, it is best to speak face to face.
       Outside of my professional practice, I use other means of networking in order to develop my professional life. In a less formal situation, I sometimes use Facebook to contact members of staff from work and run ideas by them. I am currently trying to choreograph some dance numbers for the school production. Due to other work commitments, moving house and BAPP, my time is very limited at the moment but I sporadically write on the wall of the drama teachers, to let them know that I am still interested and will get involved, as soon as I get some time! I hope that this sort of networking will remind these teachers that I haven't forgotten and am still keen to be involved. I think the use of social networks are very beneficial as it is a means of keeping in contact with people that without the network, you would probably not be in contact with. For example, I am 'friends' with my old dance teacher from over 12 years ago, but by 'catching up' with her via Facebook, every now and then, I would feel confident in offering my services or possibly asking a professionally related favour from her.
         Only recently, I began to understand the importance of networking within my current profession. When I was working as a performer, it was drummed in to me that networking was crucial and the saying 'It's not what you know, it's who you know' was definitely true. The same performers were being cast time and time again with the same companies and one director would sometimes use an actor they had met through a fellow director. Going in to the education industry, I didn't feel that this was the way people were employed. However, I have witnessed teacher's being 'guided' by their employers, the day before they are due to be interviewed by that employer. Teaching assistant's have heard through their line manager's that the opportunity of becoming a cover assistant is to become available, before the advert has officially gone out and I have also come across new members of staff being employed within a department that they did not even get interviewed for, simply by speaking to staff whilst waiting to be interviewed. This has brought home to me the importance of professional networking within the education system.
          Although I have signed up to Twitter, I do not regularly use this form of social networking, but I do admire those who use it as a tool for professional networking. I have previously spoken about Susan Elkin, a journalist for The Stage. I believe she is a perfect example of what I admire - she tweets short comments about a particular subject she is interested in exploring and uses Twitter to navigate her followers to her Blog. Here, she explores the subject in full, and encourages her readers to comment and constructively criticise. Using both her own and the readers' ideas and comments, she then constructs her editorials. I find this to be an excellent means of networking for both her and the reader, as they bounce ideas off one another. Whilst writing for my 'task 2d, inquiry', I actually tweeted Ms Elkin, to which she kindly replied. I think that I could benefit from also creating a professional Twitter account, to explore my own ideas related to both education, in whole and performing arts in education. I believe that from taking the ideas and comments of others, I would broaden my knowledge and therefore gain insight to express in an important conversation (ie.with the head teacher or my line manager) or in an interview.
       A way, in which I have recently started networking, is through the use of my blog. Before starting on BAPP, I had never considered creating a blog. Since doing so, I see that I have gained the opportunity of being able to converse with like minded people, who are trying to obtain the same goal as me. Our motives are all the same - to gain a qualification, and whilst doing this, we are also possibly gaining new contacts that can help us professionally. For example, a friend of mine was invited to hold a dance workshop within the school that I work in, after I suggested her to one of the curriculum directors. I mentioned on one of Liam's blogs, that this could be a possibility for him, as he is looking to further his teaching experience within the public sector.
         If I were to have my 'perfect' network, it would be a system similar to emailing. As I hope to get on to a GTP, after gaining my degree, it would really benefit me if there were such a thing as a network that looks for you, as opposed to you looking for GTP providers. I think this is fairly unrealistic and rather lazy, but it would certainly benefit the person looking for providers. This week, I have seen a colleague of mine become very disheartened when a school to whom she wrote to, requesting the chance of GTP with them, rang her up to tell her that they are no longer providers, and haven't been for some years. She had got the name of this school from the TDA (Teaching and Development Agency) which is meant to be up to date and provide correct information. This would not happen in my ideal network as the provider would be coming to you. It could work in a similar way to 'spotlight' for performers. The person looking for a provider would give their details to the agency, and then the providers, would be able to search through the agencies' books to find a suitable employee. You would then open your email each day, to find a list from the agency of all the providers who are interested in employing you!
         This is a little far fetched, but to make it more realistic, I could certainly share my details with an education recruitment agency that does deal with GTP providers. It is a little too early for me to do this yet, as I do not yet have my degree, but I shall definitely do this nearer to the time. In order to do this, I will need to put forward my CV. I think it would be a good idea to include a link to my own website, which would be an extension of my CV. I could include pictures of myself in a professional environment, go in to further detail about companies I have worked for, share my ambitions and aspirations and possibly include comments from colleagues and both present and past employers. This would not only provide information about me, but it would also allow future employers to see that I am computer literate and up to date with modern technology. At the moment, I do not know how to create a website, but having managed to tackle my blog, I am confident that this is something I could do.